For Parents of Individuals with Autism
Accessing Adult Services
As families prepare for the transition from school to adult services, securing and preserving eligibility for key funding streams is vital. Our presenter, from the law firm of Hinkle, Fingles and Prior, will explain the complex funding issue, available programs and eligibility criteria for services for adults with autism.
Parents also will learn about the financial and legal implications of planning for adult services, particularly protecting the assets and income resources that will help ensure their child has the opportunity to lead a full life in the community.
Autism in the Family
Do you have a grandchild, niece, nephew, cousin or special person with autism in your life? Perhaps you would like to learn more about autism and how it affects the whole family. This workshop will provide information about autism spectrum disorders in clear and practical terms. Current research on causes, diagnostic criteria, and effective interventions will be addressed. Come to this workshop to hear ideas on how you can better support your family member with autism
Educational Rights and the IEP
Understanding your child’s educational rights is fundamental to ensuring that your child receives appropriate services and support. This seminar discusses special education law as it relates to IEP development and delivery of services. Participants will learn strategies to prepare for and actively participate in IEP meetings, and how to advocate for their children’s rights. Topics include the essentials of a good IEP, the special education delivery cycle, and an in-depth examination of a sample IEP illustrating the components required by federal and state law.
Empowering Faith Communities to Include Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Participation in a faith community is an important component of many families’ lives, and many of those may have a family member with an autism spectrum disorder. This workshop will provide attendees with a clearer understanding of ASDs and general strategies for better serving these parishioners in the religious setting, whether in an official capacity or as a family friend.
Teaching Functional Communication to Children with ASDs
Communication is one of the primary deficits of autism spectrum disorders, often resulting in frustration for both children and caregivers. Parents and family members who attend this workshop will learn a variety of effective and practical strategies for improving their child’s communication skills.
Guardianship & Estate Planning
Wills, Trusts, Social Security, Medicaid…
Planning for the future for your child with autism can be complicated. Should you have bonds and savings accounts in your child’s name? Who should you designate as guardians for your child(ren)? When should you begin this process? This seminar will help you to understand the issues surrounding your decisions when planning for the future.
Healthcare Resources: Access and Funding for Autism
Navigating healthcare insurance systems can be a daunting task for families. Securing funding for autism services can be challenging. Autism New Jersey can help. Join us for a two-hour workshop that will provide a solid foundation of basic healthcare information, including eligibility criteria and paperwork requirements. We will discuss a number of ways to seek funding for treatments throughout an individual’s lifetime. Participants can learn how to maximize their health coverage, navigate the systems, master appeals procedures and gain coverage under other programs such as Medicaid and Medicaid-funded waivers.
Healthcare, Medicaid & Other Entitlements
Autism New Jersey is pleased to offer a Healthcare, Medicaid & Other Entitlements advocacy workshop. This workshop will be presented by Ira Fingles, Esq., from Hinkle, Fingles & Prior. Learn how to maximize your health coverage, navigate the system, gain coverage under other programs such as Medicaid and Medicaid-funded waivers, and master appeal procedures.
Navigating the DDD (The Division of Developmental Disabilities) System
Navigating The Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) system can sometimes be complex. This workshop will highlight the steps families need to take to establish eligibility for DDD services, what services may be available, and how to make a difference in the funding allotments for different regions of the state. We will also discuss what to do if a child is found ineligible for services, what a family’s appeal rights are and alternative funding resources. This workshop is for parents of children of all ages with developmental disabilities.
Planning for the Future: What Grandparents and Extended Family Members Need to Know
What Grandparents and Extended Family Members Need to Know When there is a child with autism in the family, often grandparents, and extended family members, want to help in whatever way they can. Sometimes, however, well-intentioned efforts can have unexpected consequences. In this workshop, parent and extended family members will learn about important financial and legal issues in planning for the future of a child with autism, including the pitfalls of gifts and direct inheritance; the importance of a special needs trust and the role of life insurance and charitable giving. This workshop will be presented by the law firm of Hinkles, Fingles and Prior.
Preparation for Adult Years: Helping Families to Transition from School to Adult Life
Educational goals for adolescent learners with autism spectrum disorders need to focus on preparation for adult life. As adolescents age up toward 21, it is an especially important time for parents to collaborate with professionals and share their goals for their child. Vocational skills should include production aspects of jobs as well as skills to address successful integration into the work environment. This workshop will address how a transition program should help teenagers and adult learners acquire and perform age-appropriate, functional skills in a variety of integrated, natural community environments.
Incorporating ABA Strategies at Home for Children with ASDs
Applied Behavior Analysis is a research-based method that is effective for teaching individuals with autism spectrum disorders. Providing consistency in teaching across home and school environments can help to maximize learning. This workshop will provide an overview of behavioral strategies that can be used at home. Parents, family members, and caregivers are welcome to attend.
Kids and Autism: An Interactive Workshop for Siblings
When children have a sibling with autism, they may have difficulty understanding their sibling’s behavior and separating myths from facts. This workshop will provide children with a fun and interactive experience. Siblings will participate in educational games to learn about autism, their siblings’ behavior and experiences they have in common. Siblings ages 6-12 are encouraged to attend.
Making Informed Choices About Autism Treatment
With the wide variety of treatment approaches for autism, how do you know where to start, what to try and which ones are right for your child? What questions should you ask before and during intervention to make the most of the experience? Following a brief review of the research on a variety of treatments, this workshop will provide you with tools to be a more informed consumer and ways to partner with service providers to get the best for your child. This workshop will benefit parents of newly diagnosed children who want help making sense of treatment claims and parents of older children who wish to re-evaluate their child's current program.
Overview of Autism New Jersey's Services
This workshop will describe available services for both families of individuals with autism and the professionals who support them.
The Parent Series on Behavioral Teaching and Educational Rights
The Parent Series is a 15-hour course focusing on teaching a behavioral approach to parenting. Series topics include: how to assess and change behavior; how to teach new skills; and your child’s educational rights.
Promoting Social Skills in Children with ASDs
Individuals with autism spectrum disorders often have difficulty engaging in social interactions. This workshop will provide an overview of strategies for increasing social skills in children with autism. Parents, family members, and caregivers are welcome to attend.
Resources & Strategies
Autism New Jersey serves as a clearinghouse of information and support for families affected by autism throughout the state. This workshop will provide an overview of state resources and research-based behavioral strategies that can be used at home. Parents, family members, and caregivers are welcome to attend.
Self-Nurture: Taking Care of Yourself When Your Child has Autism
This open forum to discuss how you handle stressful situations. Practical strategies for coping with stress will be discussed. Participants will be encouraged to share experiences about how they maintain energy, enthusiasm, humor, and a positive outlook on life. The entire family benefits when parents can manage the challenges and enjoy the good times. This discussion will enhance your mind, body, and spirit.
Siblings of Children with Autism Interactive Workshops
For Siblings:
When children have a sibling with autism, they may have difficulty understanding their sibling’s behavior and separating myths from facts. This workshop will provide children with a fun and interactive experience. Siblings will participate in educational games to learn about autism, their siblings’ behavior and experiences they have in common. Siblings ages 6-12 are encouraged to attend.
For Parents:
During the sibling group, parents are invited to attend an interactive group discussion on issues affecting siblings of children with autism. Parents will discuss strategies to help their children interact more effectively and will be encouraged to share personal experiences.
Supporting Siblings of Children with Autism or other Special Needs
Siblings of children with autism and other disabilities can have difficulty understanding their brothers and sister's challenges and needs. The speaker will discuss developmentally appropriate information, review skills to teach siblings, and facilitate a group discussion in which parents will be encouraged to share their questions, ideas, and experiences.
Surviving Puberty: Tips for Parents of Adolescents with Autism
Perhaps nothing is as unpredictable as teenage behavior. Parents with teenage children with autism spectrum disorders often face additional challenges as their adolescent children enter puberty. This presentation will assist parents in identifying characteristics of teenagers with autism spectrum disorders and identify strategies to teach age appropriate functional, personal and social skills that may promote home, school, and community inclusion.
Promoting Social Skills in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Individuals with autism spectrum disorders often have difficulty engaging in social interactions. This workshop will provide an overview of strategies for increasing social skills in children with autism.
Transition Planning: How to Plan for Your Young Adult
Transition planning for children age 14 and over is an integral part of preparing your young adult to be independent after leaving the school setting. Now is the time to collaborate with your district to plan for your child’s life after school. Federal and state law require that school districts deliver transitional services to children during their teenage years. These seminars will educate you about what an IEP should include when planning for transition, and who is involved in this process. Content is aimed toward parents of children ages 12-21.
For Professionals Supporting Individuals with Autism
"Are you looking to provide quality professional development for your staff? Schools and agencies can select from the topics below or contact Elizabeth Neumann at 609.588.8200, ext. 16 or eneumann@autismnj.org to discuss any other specific topics that would meet your needs.
To begin the intake process, downloand Autism New Jersey's Agencies Workshop Request Form or Schools Workshop Request Form. Fees apply.
Beyond the ABCs and 123s: Effective Early Education for Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Preschool teachers, day care staff, and early intervention therapists have a valuable opportunity to significantly impact young children with autism. Certain prerequisite skills must be developed and specific teaching strategies applied in order to maximize this crucial time in their development. Before you focus too much time on typical preacademic skills, learn specific ways to improve critical aspects of social interaction, communication, and behavior that are the priorities for these youngsters.
Understanding Autism: What Public School Administrators Need to Know
Approximately 10,000 New Jersey students have an educational classification of autism. There are many anecdotal examples of how administrators drive effective programs, and virtually no examples of successful programs without administrative support. Learn more about autism, Asperger’s Disorder, and PDDNOS, including strategies to address students’ social, communicative, and behavioral needs. Maximize your resources by learning how to determine which interventions have empirical evidence supporting their use. Expand your leadership skills by learning how to most effectively support your staff to serve the complex and unique needs of these learners in various placements throughout the school. This workshop was created specifically for superintendents, principals, and directors/supervisors of special services and is based on the findings of a recent state-wide survey of NJ public school administrators.
Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorders
Approximately 1% of the population has been diagnosed with an ASD, but it can still be overwhelming to sort through conflicting information and explanations. Current research findings and diagnostic criteria and how they may be expressed in different individuals will be explained in a clear and practical way. This workshop (which can be tailored to a specific audience) will also provide specific strategies that can help professionals better understand and support their students or clients on the spectrum.
Effective Teaching Strategies for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders (and the rest of the class, too!)
Become more successful in your work with individuals on the spectrum through a clearer understanding of ASDs and practical strategies derived from what we know about their learning styles. This workshop can be customized for special education teachers, general education teachers, paraprofessionals, day care staff or any other specific group of professionals.
Evidence-based Practice in the Promotion of Healthy Lifestyles for Learners with ASDs Across the Lifespan
Regular exercise promotes fitness and health benefits as well as improves appearance. Individuals with autism spectrum disorders may be at risk for being physically inactive. The characteristics of the disorder may interfere with successful participation in traditional forms of physical activity. Or there may be a limited number of fitness and recreation programs designed for individuals with developmental disabilities. Achieving an appropriate fitness level can help learners with ASDs participate more fully with their families and peers in leisure activities, activities of daily living, and education, vocational, and community environments. Acquiring appropriate fitness skills may promote the productive use of leisure time in less restrictive settings. Extensive research supports the effectiveness of a behavioral approach for individuals with ASDs. This presentation will address the application of behavioral principles to promote the physical fitness and safety of individuals with ASDs as well as inclusion in home, educational, volunteer, leisure, and work settings.
Facilitating Social Interaction for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Social skills are one of the most challenging areas for individuals on the spectrum to understand and develop. Even individuals who are considered "high-functioning" in their academic or verbal skills often need to be explicitly taught how to successfully navigate these interactions. Learn strategies to maximize the many situations in the natural environment that can build these critical skills.
Functional Communication Skills for Learners with ASDs
Individuals with autism often present with severe deficits in communication skills that lead to maladaptive behaviors. These behaviors may be avoided when communicative skills are achieved. Understanding more about autism and principles of applied behavior analysis could equip professionals with practical strategies to improve both expressive and receptive language skills. Ideas for interacting effectively with students/clients, capturing motivation, providing visual supports, and applying technology will be discussed
Keys to Paraprofessionals’ Success: How to Best Support Your Students with ASDs
Paraprofessionals are frequently assigned to students on the spectrum, either as a classroom aide or one-to-one support. They will be much more comfortable and effective once they understand critical background knowledge of the disorder and how it affects their particular learners. Whether in a self-contained classroom or an inclusive setting, there are proven strategies they should use to help students master their social, communicative, behavioral, and academic goals.
Managing Challenging Behavior in Learners with ASDs
When a student or client has trouble with an academic, vocational, or life skill, professionals often get very creative thinking of different approaches to resolve the difficulty. This workshop will discuss ways to apply that concept to behavior challenges as well. Understanding why the behavior is occurring based on what occurs before and after it will help you develop a plan to teach a more appropriate alternative to meet the same goal. With proven strategies and thorough analysis of the behavior and environment, learn to take proactive steps to teach more appropriate behaviors that can significantly improve the quality of life of those they support.
Preparation for Adult Years: Transitioning Individuals with ASDs from School to Adult Life
Educational goals for adolescent learners with autism spectrum disorders need to focus on preparation for adult life (e.g., functioning fully in their homes and community settings, developing relevant job skills, increasing self-care, leisure and domestic skills). Instructional strategies used to teach skills should include production aspects of jobs (e.g., sorting mail, taking inventory) as well as skills to address successful integration into the work environment (e.g., using a public restroom, taking a break). The goal of a transition program needs to help teenage and adult learners acquire and perform age appropriate, functional skills in a variety of integrated, natural community environments. Objective data measures should be used to document the effects of intervention, specifically to track success and assist with problem solving of challenging behavior.
Recognizing the Signs of Autism Spectrum Disorders in Young Children
The increase in awareness of ASDs has led to many questions from professionals concerned about certain children in their care. Factual information about ASDs, video examples of common traits, effective teaching strategies and keys to successful parent collaboration will be explored.
Working with Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Become more successful in your work with individuals on the spectrum through a clearer understanding of ASDs and practical strategies derived from what we know about their learning styles. Special or general education teachers, therapists, child study team members, administrators, day care staff, adult vocational or residential staff should all learn specific approaches to begin right away as well as resources for further learning.
Autism New Jersey 2011 Professional Workshops
Working with Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Become more successful in your work with individuals on the spectrum through a clearer understanding of ASDs and practical strategies derived from what we know about their learning styles. Special or general education teachers, therapists, child study team members, administrators, day care staff, adult vocational or residential staff should all learn specific approaches to begin right away as well as resources for further learning.
Presented by Autism New Jersey Professional Services Coordinator, Elizabeth Neumann, BCaBA